Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2008/04/donsims-web.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

Otago Nuggets coach Dom Sims (Photosport)

Don Sims says he accepted the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets coaching job for the challenge.

Well, he got what he wished for . . . and some.
The Nuggets have slumped to 0-6 – already five games behind the Dominion Finance NBL leading Waikato Pistons and three-and-a-half games outside the top-six – and remain the only winless team after five rounds.
If you wanted to pin their six straight losses on one factor, it wouldn’t take long to find the tail on that donkey – shooting percentages.
The Nuggets rank bottom or second-to-bottom in the League in all three shooting percentage categories.
Their 37.0% from the field is an NBL-worst, while 28.4% on three-point attempts and 64.2% from the foul-line are better than only the Marley Canterbury Rams. Defence may win championships but scoring points still wins games and the Nuggets 76.8 points a game average is another League-worst.
“When you’re shooting 36 percent in six games, then either the guys you thought were shooters aren’t shooters or you’re just not working hard enough. We’re certainly working hard,” Sims said.
“If you look at our shot chart, we’re missing close shots, shots in the lane.”
After losing their first two games by four points and five points in overtime, they have gone on to lose by 10, 11, 11 and 23, and have contended in all games except last Sunday’s 90-67 rout against the Century City Wellington Saints.
A scrappy defence and rebounding have kept them in games they had no business still contending for.
Before round five, the Nuggets were the NBL’s leading rebounders despite not having a consistent big man and currently are second to only the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat, by 0.4 of a rebound. Their 20.2 offensive rebounds and 19.3 second chance points per game continue to be easily the League’s best.
“We feel we’re playing other parts of the game well.
“We’re rebounding well and playing good defence but we’re just not able to put the ball in the hole.
“If it was a case where every game was like the Wellington game then that would be a different story. It’s just about making our shots and staying positive . . . We’ve had a lot of close games. We’ve been competitive and been in games, we’ve just lacked the shooting percentages.
“We’re positive, I don’t allow people that aren’t positive. If you don’t feel good about the system then you need to be on the next train out of town.”
The Nuggets will get an opportunity to end their winless funk against the (1-3) Manawatu OzJets on Saturday night in a at-home-on-the-road situation as the Dunedin-based franchise takes the first of two home games this season to other cities – this time to the SBS Events Centre in Timaru, which technically is Rams Country.
The addition of American guard Lemar Gayle, who replaced seven-foot compatriot Rashaan Smith, has given the Nuggets a consistent scoring threat – averaging 25.0 points per in four games – but has left them weak at centre, where Jason Greig and recently-added Chris Hepburn have been platooning.
In his previous coaching job, Sims’ Seattle Mountaineers squad endured an eight-game losing streak to start the IBL season, before a re-tooled roster, which included Gayle, saw them win the next eight straight and 11 of their last 14 games.
Sims did not rule out more changes at the Edgar Centre.
“Down here we’ve got a brand new team and we’re still working things out. Hopefully by the time we’ve finished dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, we’ll be able to get some wins in the column,” Sims said.
“Whatever it takes to get the right chemistry.”

NBL Round Six Guide (843KB pdf)